Arkansas Children's Hospital
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Arkansas Children's Hospital
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Champion Child

Arkansas Children's Hospital
2007 Children's Miracle Network Champion Child
Emma Wilkins, Age 9 Emma Wilkins


Emma Wilkins, 9, of Paragould, loves to roller blade, play the piano, swim, play soccer and perfom in plays. She doesn’t let her chronic disease get in the way of having fun and enjoying life the way every kid should.

Although most children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are diagnosed shortly after birth, Emma wasn’t diagnosed until she was 5 years old. She had been having lung infections and gastrointentinal problems for years, but no one put it all together until she was referred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

“When I first heard the diagnosis, I thought our lives were over,” says her mother, Julie Wilkins. “But once I learned more about CF, I realized we just had to attack the problem at hand. That mindset has made it much more manageable.”

Her treatment regimen has made all the difference for Emma. She takes enzymes, uses a therapy vest twice a day and visits ACH regularly for IV treatments.

Maintaining a positive attitude has helped Emma’s family deal with her illness. They have adapted their lifestyle to handle Emma’s medical needs and make her life as normal and routine as possible.

“We have learned to count our blessings,” Julie explains. “We just lead a good, normal life and take CF right along with us. Our plan is to keep her healthy until there’s a cure.”

Julie says they are grateful to everyone at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

“ACH treats everything about an illness,” Julie says. “They understand that hospital stays affect everyone in the family and affect the child physically, emotionally and socially. It seems that everyone at ACH goes above and beyond what is expected.”





Arkansas Children's Hospital
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall St., Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, (501) 364-1100 or TDD (501) 364-1184

ACH is a tobacco free campus.

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